FUTURE OF INDIA

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1931, Page 9

FUTURE OF INDIA

CREDIT AND FINANCE

SAFEGUARDS ESSENTIAL

VICEROY'S FAREWELL

(Brltisb Official Wireless.)

(Received 28th March, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 27th March.

A newspaper story that Mr. Wedgwood Beun, Secretary for India, had sent ' a personal telegram to Mr. Gandhi was officially denied in London to-day. The published statement attributed to him, that in any future Round Table Conference constitutional safeguards would be regarded as being entirely open to discussion, was described, as a distoition of the true position. LORD IRWIN'S VIEW. This was touched upon by the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, in a speech at a farawell banquet in his honour at New Delhi last night. He said that the safeguards suggested at the.. Bound j Table Conference had been subjected to some- criticism and misunderstanding. Indian opinion was surely not less anxious than any opinion in Great Britain to see ample security provided where necessary for the good of India in- the sphere of credit and finance. IS was the considered view of His Majesty's Government that, in the inter-1 est of India, it was imperative to provide effective safeguards for the maintenance of financial stability, and for the protection of India Js credit. Th& Government had reached the conclusion that to secure this purpose the finan-i cial safeguards discussed at the Bound Table Conference- were essential. OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS. If, however, in the course of further i constitutional discussions any of thosu participating in them desired to suggest other financial safeguards, thi» Government, in accordance with th» . terms of the statement issued on. sth March, by the Governor-General ia Council, would not wish to limit their right to do so, and would be prepared to give such suggestions careful consideration. The acceptance by the Government of such alternative- suggestions would depend on the ability of those proposing them to convince th» Government that the safeguards would bo equally effective for the purpos* described. Lord Irwin said that only a shallow; critic would undervalue the powerful and promising framework which th* Round. Table Conference had prepared.